Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said, “There won’t be negotiations on a long-term deal” for George Pickens.

22 April 2026

Owner Jerry Jones apparently woke up and chose violence, shutting down any hopes of an extension for the team’s leading receiver in 2025. Stephen Jones reiterated that the team will have Pickens play on the franchise tag in 2026. This comes less than a month after Jerry told reporters the team has long-term plans for Pickens. As is always the case, the Cowboys are playing with one hand tied behind their backs by taking an adversarial approach with their own players. They have typically found a way to get deals done in the end, but this time sounds different. Pickens, who went for 1,429 yards and nine scores last year, will be a free agent next offseason, barring a change of heart from the Cowboys. Now the question becomes whether he will accept this fate or demand a trade, which likely starts with a hold-in during training camp.